Remote control target apparatus

ABSTRACT

A target apparatus for an archery range including a wheeled cart mounted on a track. The drive motor is energized and controlled by means of a cable connected between a take-up device mounted on the cart and one end of the range. A control means is provided to selectively drive the cart between opposite ends of the range and to position the cart at pre-selected distances from the front of the range. Various safety devices are provided to automatically stop the cart at opposite ends of the range and to stop the cart and sound an alarm should a user step onto the range.

United States Patent [191 Larsen 1 Nov. 6, 1973 REMOTE CONTROL TARGETAPPARATUS [75] Inventor: Henry A. Larsen, Manitowish Waters, Wis.

[73] Assigne e: Arrowmatic, lnc., Manitowish Waters, Wis.

[22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 68,522

Related U.S. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 748,140, June 5,1968, Pat. No. 3,559,994, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.420,757, Dec. 23, 1964, abandoned.

104/243; 295/9 R; 273/105.6; 105/215 R, 216; 305/27, 56; 191/2, 12.2 R,12.2 A

2,566,607 9/ 1 951 661861 273/1056 X 2,046,448 7/1936 Buigne 882,1205/1906 Harris 104/183 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,247,981 10/1959France 305/56 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminerGeorge F. Abraham Agent.lohn W. Michael et a1.

[ 57] ABSTRACT A target apparatus for an archery range including awheeled cart mounted on a track. The drive motor is energized andcontrolled by means of a cable connected between a take-up devicemounted on the cart and one end of the range. A control means isprovided to selectively drive the cart between opposite ends of therange and to position the cart at pre-selected distances from the frontof the range. Various safety de- [56] References Cited vices areprovided to automatically stop the cart at op- UNITED STATES PATENTSposite ends of the range and to stop the cart and sound 1,086,669 2/1914.lohansen 295/1 an alarm should a user step onto the range, 2,984,5245/1961 Franzen 1,137,337 4/1915 Levin 19l/l2.2 A 4 Claims, 17 DrawingFigures I II 111 III] l'll'lllill PATENTEU "BY 6 I975 SHEET 2 BF 6.

l/ //////////j//// I/ FUeQS PATENTEUHBV 61913 I I 3770.914

SHEET 8 BF 6 REMOTE CONTROL TARGET APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONS This application is a division of my application, Ser. No.748,140, filed June 5, 1968, now US Pat. No. 559,994 which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 420,757, filed Dec. 23,1964, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to improvements in remote control target devices and moreparticularly to a selfpropelled, remotely controlled target carrieradapted for use in an archery range.

II. Description of the Prior Art Prior archery target shootingarrangements have been of relatively complex construction and havefailed to incorporate the several safety features present in the subjectinvention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The target apparatus of this invention is comprisedof a wheeled target cart mounted for rolling movement on a track. Thecart is driven by a drive motor mounted on the cart which in turn iscontrolled by means of a control cable connected between a takeup deviceon the cart and one end of the range. A special stop switch means isprovided to stop the cart at the front end of the range. It includes anelongated stop member adapted to alternately actuate a pair of spacedswitches which are adapted to restore a circuit for starting the cart inthe opposite direction only. A further safety arrangement to insure thatthe cart will be stopped at the front of the range is comprised of apair of stationary cam members adapted for engagement by the cartcausing the cart to be lifted off the ground.

A specially designed take-up device is provided which operates tomaintain the control cable under tension at all times even when the cartis stopped.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view (withparts broken away) of an archery range embodying the present inventionand showing the target carrying cart in two different positions asindicated by dotted lines:

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view (with parts broken away) of a targetcarrying cart constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the target and target mount which isadapted to be carried by the cart;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4through the cable take-up mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8 showing theparts in take-out position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the parts in the take-upposition;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line l1l1 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 8 showing theparts in take-out position;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but with the parts in the take-upposition;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are partially schematic circuit diagrams which, whentaken together, show the control circuitry for the archery target deviceof this invention;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a modified take-updevice; and

FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a plan view of onelane of the archery range. As shown, a pair of tracks 10, 12 are mountedin each lane on which is driven a target carrying cart 14. The cart 14is controlled from a control console 16 mounted adjacent the front endof the lane where the archers stand to shoot arrows at a target 18 (FIG.7) mounted on cart 14. As will be explained, cart 14 can be positionedby remote control at a variety of positions along tracks l0, 12 toprovide the archer with shooting distances of varying lengths asdesired. Also, as will be explained, the cart can be returned to thefront of the lane after shooting is completed to permit removal of thearrows from the target. The cart is then returned to the desiredshooting position for the next round of shooting.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 andS, cart 14 is self-propelled and is comprisedof a body portion 20 and four wheels 22 mounted on axles 24 for rollingengagement on tracks 10, 12. As shownin FIG. 6, tracks 10,12 are of thesame basic construction and are comprised of a base portion 26 and anupstanding flange portion 28. The tracks are spaced so that the wheels22 of the cart '14 will ride on base portions 26 immediately adjacentand on the outside of flange portions 28 which serve to guide themovement of the cart along the tracks. Tracks 10,12 can be readilyinstalled on floors of concrete, wood, or other material thus obviatingcostly and permanent structural modifications to the building.

The cart is powered by an electric motor 30 mounted beneath body member20 and drivingly engaged with rear axle 24 by means of belts or chains32,34 and sprocket gears 36, 38, 40 and 42, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.Motor 30 isprovided with an electromagnetic brake 44, the operation ofwhich will be explained hereinafter. Electric power to run motor 30 andcontrol current for controlling the operation of the motor and brake arecarried to cart 14 by means of a multiconductor cable 46 which extendsfrom a back control panel 48 mounted at the rear end of the range(FIG. 1) to a take-up device 50 mounted on the cart beneath the cartbody member 20.

It should be noted at this point that the movement of cart 14 back andforthon tracks 10,12 will cause the inner surfaces of wheels 22 to rubagainst flange portions 28 of the tanks. It has been found that suchrubbing poses a serious wear problem necessitating frequent replacementof the wheels. To solve this problem each wheel is provided with a wearpad 52 of highly wear-resistant material mounted between the wheel andthe flange as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, the pads 52 are inthe form ofa disc of nylon material and are mounted on the wheel axle immediatelyadjacent the inside surface of the wheel. The provision of such wearpads 52 protects the wheels from excessive wear on the sides thereof andcan readily be replaced when required. Pads of nylon have displayedexcellent wear characteristics when employed as described above and haverequired only infrequent replacement.

The detailed construction of take-up device 50 is shown in FIGS. 4 and8l3. The device includes a takeup drum 54 on which cable 46 is woundwhen the cart moves toward the rear of the range and from which thecable is unwound when the cart moves toward the front of the range. Thetake-up drum is positively actuated in the windup direction and a dragis imposed thereon in the unwind direction by the operation of aspecially designed drive and drag mechanism shown in FIGS. 8-13. Suchmechanism is comprised of a clutch pulley 56 mounted on a flanged sleeve58 which in turn is mounted on a pair of sleeve bearings 60,62. Pulley56 is drivingly engaged with drum 54 by a pulley 55 on the drum and abelt 57 connected between pulleys 55 and 56. Pulley 56 is mountedbetween a pair of nylon clutch plates 64,64 retained in position byflange 66 of sleeve 58 and a pressure plate 68. Pressure plate 68 isbiased toward pulley 56 to maintain the pulley in frictional engagementwith clutch plates 64 by means of a plurality of springs 70 which areheld under compression against the face of plate 68 by a retainer ring72 fixed to sleeve 58 by setscrews or other suitable means. As shown inFIG. 11, pressure plate 68 is fixed to sleeve 58 by means of retainerridges 74,74 on plate 68 adapted for engagement in grooves 76,76 insleeve 58. it will be appreciated that the pressure exerted on pulley 56by clutch plates 64,64 can be varied by adjusting the position ofretainer ring 72 on sleeve 58.

Also mounted on sleeve 58 is a ratchet wheel 78 adapted forunidirectional engagement with a dog 80 pivotally mounted on the cart asshown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Ratchet wheel 78 is fixed to sleeve 58 by anysuitable means such as setscrews 82. A second ratchet wheel 84 ismounted on axle 24 and is adapted for unidirectional engagement with adog 86 pivotally mounted on flange portion 66 of sleeve 58, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. Ratchet wheel 84 is fixed to axle 24 by any suitablemeans such as setscrews 88,88 as shown.

The take-up apparatus operates as follows. Assume cart 14 is positionedat the front of the range and is driven from such position down-range tothe desired shooting distance. As cart 14 moves down-range, rear axle 24will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction when viewed as in FIGS.10 and 13. As shown in FIG. 13, ratchet wheel 78 on sleeve 58 will beallowed to rotate freely by dog 80. As shown in FIG. 10, ratchet wheel84 on axle 24 will engage dog 86 on sleeve 58 (flange 66) causing sleeve58 to rotate with it. The rotational movement of sleeve 58 will betransmitted to pulley 56 by clutch plates 64,64, to thereby drive drum54 in the take-up direction causing cable 46 to be wound up thereon. Thesize of pulleys 55 and S6 and the diameter of drum 54 are selected sothat the rotational speed of axle 24 will be greater than the drum speedrequired to take up the slack in cable 46 as the cart moves down-range.This difference in speeds will be accommodated by slippage at clutchplates 64,64 which allows sleeve 58 (on axle 24) to rotate faster thanpulley 56. Thus with rear axle 24 tending to overrun pulley 56 as thecable 46 is wound up on drum 54 any tendency for slack to develop in thecable will be eliminated.

After cart 14 stops at the desired shooting distance down-range from theconsole and its direction is reversed to return the cart, take-up device50 operates as follows. With the cart moving up-range, rear axle 24 willrotate in a clockwise direction when viewed as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12.As shown in FIG. 9, ratchet wheel 84 on axle 24 will be allowed torotate freely past dog 86. However, as shown in FIG. 12 ratchet wheel 78will be engaged by dog 80 on the cart thereby preventing it from anymovement whatsoever. Since ratchet wheel 78 is fixed to sleeve 58, suchsleeve will also be held motionless. Thus with sleeve 58 held stationarya drag will be imparted to pulley 56 by clutch plates 64,64 as theup-range movement of the cart causes drum 54 to be rotated as cable 46is unwound therefrom. The result is that cable 46 will be kept under acontrolled tension at all times. As stated previously, the amount ofsuch tension can be adjusted by adjusting the position of retainer ring72 on sleeve 58.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a modified take-up device arrangement 400 speciallydesigned to provide improved operating characteristics over thearrangement shown in FIG. 4. Experience has shown that when the targetcart is moved to the front of the range for removal of arrows from thetarget, such removal will often cause the cart to be rolled back andforth slightly. Such movement will cause a slight rotation of the drumwhich in turn tends to create a slack condition in the cable which willoften result in a misalignment of the cable on the drum. The modifiedarrangement of FIGS. 16 and 17 very effectively corrects this problem.

Most of parts of the modified take-up device 400 are the same aspreviously described take-up device 50 and have therefore beenidentified with the same reference numerals. The improvement resides inthe provision of a suitable spring means located somewhere in the drivetrain between the drive motor 30 and the take-up drum 54. While this canbe accomplished in different ways the preferred arrangement employs acoil spring member 402 fastened at one end to a drive hub 404 and at theother end to drum 54. Hub 404 and drum 54 are freely rotatably mountedon a shaft 406 and a driving connection between the hub and drum isprovided by spring 402.

In operation when the cart is driven down-range, hub 404 will be drivenin a counter-clockwise direction by belt 57 as viewed in FIG. 17. Thecounter-clockwise driving action of hub 404 will be transmitted to drum54 by means of spring 402. The spring 402 in performing this functionwill be biased to an energy storing position. Similarly when the cart isdriven up-range for removal of arrows from the target, the energystoring position of spring 402 will be maintained as the drum is rotatedin the opposite direction against the friction of clutch plates 64,64.Thus it is seen that the energy storing position of spring 402 will bemaintained throughout the operation of the target apparatus with thespring in effect serving to keep cable 46 under constant tension evenwhen the cart is stopped. Therefore, should the cart be moved slightlyfor any reason such as the removal of arrows from the target, the actionof spring 402 will prevent the cable from becoming loose on the take-updrum to an extent wherein misalignment could occur. It will be noted inthis regard, that as shown in FIG. 16 the surface of drum 54 is groovedas at 408 to accommodate cable 46 in a uniform manner. As indicated, theaction of spring 402 effectively prevents misalignment of the cable withthe grooves on the drum.

CONTROL SYSTEM AND OPERATION The control circuitry for operating cart 14by remote control from console 16 is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Forpurposes of the explanation which follows, FIGS. 14 and should be viewedtogether with FIG. 15 positioned to the right of FIG. 14. When thusviewed the portion of the control system located on the cart is shown onthe left (FIG. 14) and is marked with the reference numeral 14. Theportion of the system located at the back control panel is shown in themiddle (FIG. 14) and is marked with the reference numeral 48 and theportion of the system located at the console is shown on the right (FIG.14) and is marked with the reference numeral 16.

The control system can best be described by describing the operation ofthe invention as it would be used in a typical installation.

Assume cart 14 is positioned at the front of the range and that it isdesired to move the cart down-range a given distance for shooting.Assume also that the desired shooting distances are arranged at 5-footintervals with a minimum of feet and a maximum of feet.

The first step is to actuate ON-OFF switch to the ON position thusenergizing indicating light 92 by a circuit starting at a source 94 of ll5-volt AC current and continuing through conductors 96,98, switch 90,conductor 100, bulb 92, conductors 102,104, switch 90, and conductors106,108,110. The closing of ON-OFF switch 90 will also energize mainpower relay 112 at the back control panel 48 by completing a circuitstarting at source 94 and including conductor 110, coil 114 of relay112, conductors 116,118, switch of low voltage relay 122, conductor 124,normally closed manual stop switch 126, conductor 128, switch of consolerelay 132, conductors 134,136,100, ON-OFF switch 90 and conductors98,96. The energizing of coil 114 of relay 122 will close normally openswitch 138 of such relay.

The next step is to set the selector switch 140 to the desired setting.Assume for purposes of this description that a shooting distance of 45feet is desired which means that switch 140 is set to position No. 6 tothus establish contact between contacts 142,144 and 146,148 of theswitch. This is accomplished by selector switch arms and 152 which aremounted on a common shaft (schematically indicated in dotted lines). Itwill be appreciated that at this point in the operation the stepperswitch 154 will be in its reset condition with its contact 156 connectedto dead contact 158 (position No. 1) by stepper switch arm 160.

The next step is to press the FROM button 162 which closes switch 164which in turn will energize coil 166 of relay 168 on cart 14 bycompleting a circuit starting at source 94 and including: conductors110,108,170, slip ring 172 and brush 174 of a conventional slip ring andbrush arrangement located at the take-up drum 54 of take-up device 50,conductors 176,178,180 TO normally closed trip stop switch 182,conductor 184v FROM normally closed trip stop switch 186, conductor 188,normally closed safety switch 190, conductors 192,194 coil 166 of relay168, conductors 196,198, FROM unidirectional safety switch 200,conductor 202, brush 204, slip ring 206, conductor 208, FROM switch 164,conductors 210,118, switch 120 of low voltage relay 122, conductor 124STOP switch 126, conductor 128, switch 130 of console relay 132,conductors 134,136,100, ON-OFF switch 90, and conductors 98,96.

The energization of coil 166 of relay 168 will close normally openswitches 212 and 214 of such relay. The closing of switch 214 willestablish a holding circuit which in effect will short out FROM switch164 from the circuit just described so that coil 166 will remainenergized when FROM button 162 is released. Such holding circuitstarting at source 94 includes: conductors 110,108,170, slip ring 172,brush 174, conductors 176,178,180, switch 182, conductor 184, switch186, conductor 188, switch 190, conductors 192,194, coil 166, conductors196,216, switch 214, conductors 218,220, thermal switch 222 (located atmotor 30), conductor 224, brush 226, slip ring 228, conductors 230,switch 138 and conductors 232,96. The closing of switch 212 willenergize motor starter coil 234 of motor 30 by completing a circuit fromsource 94 which includes: conductors 110,108,170, slip ring 172, brush174, conductors 176,236, switch 212 of relay 168, conductors238,240,242,244, normally closed switch 246 of relay 248, conductor 250,motor starting coil 234, conductor 252, centrifugal starter switch 254,conductors 256,258, switch 260, conductors 262,264,268,270,272,196,216,switch 214, conductors 218,220, thermal switch 222, conductor 224, brush226, slip ring 228, conductor 230, switch 138, and conductors 232,96.Simultaneously with the energization of starting coil 234 of motor 30,running coil 274 of the motor and coil 276 of brake 44 will also beenergized. The energization of brake coil 276 will release normally setbrake 44 and the energization of running coil 274 (by means ofconductors 278,280) will cause motor 30 to drive cart 14 in the FROMdirection downrange toward the desired stopping point. As the motorreaches its rated RPM centrifugal starter switch 254 will open andthereby drop starter coil 234 in a conventional manner.

As the cart travels down-range, a normally open counting. switch 282mounted on the underside of cart 14 (see FIG. 4) will be actuated by aplurality of actuator members 284 (FIG. 1) mounted on track 12 at spacedintervals corresponding to the desired shooting distances. The firstactuator member is located at the 20-foot distance (slightly up-rangetherefrom as will be explained). As counting switch v282 is momentarilyclosed as the cart passes thereby, a stepping coil 286 at console willbe energized by a circuit starting at source 94 and including:conductors 110,108, 170, slip ring 172, brush 174, conductors176,178,288, counting switch 282, conductor 290, brush 292, slip ring294,

- conductor 296, selector switch 140, conductor 298,

stepper coil 286, conductors 300,302,136,100, ON- OFF switch 90, andconductors 98,96.

The momentary energization of stepping coil will cause stepper arm ofstepper switch 154 to advance from position No. 1 to position No. 2.Stepper switch 154 may be of any conventional design, the details ofwhich are not a part of this invention. As cart 14 continues to traveldown-range arm 160 will be advanced to positions 3, 4, 5 and 6 in themanner just described as counting switch 282 is momentarily closed byactuators 284 mounted on the track. As stepper switch 154 is actuated toposition No. 7, the coil 304 of console relay 132 will be energized by acircuit starting at source 94 and including conductors 110,108,106,ON-OFF switch 90, conductors 104,102,306, coil 304 of relay 132,conductor 308, arm 152 of switch 140, conductor 310, arm 160 of switch154, conductors 312,302,136,100, ON-OFF switch 90, and conductors 98,96.

The energization of coil 304 will open normally closed switch 130 ofrelay 132 which in turn will cause main power relay 112 and motorstarter relay 168 to drop out. The opening of switches 212,214 of relay168 will deenergize brake coil 276 which in turn will cause brake 44 oncart 14 to be set. The opening of switches 212,214 will also deenergizerunning coil 274 of motor 30. The setting of brake 44 will cause cart 14to be stopped a predetermined distance (generally about 3-4 feet) beyondthe actuator 284 located at the 45-foot shooting distance. It should benoted at this point that upon energization of coil 304 of console relay132 a circuit will be established to energize a stepper switch resetcoil 314 by means of conductors 316, 318, 320, and a switch contact 322.The energization of reset coil 314 will cause arm 160 of stepper switch154 to be returned to its No. 1 position. This in turn will break thecircuit to coil 304 of relay 132 causing such relay to drop out. Theresetting of switch 154 by coil 314 can be accomplished by any suitablemeans well known in the art such as by releasing a dog member from aratchet wheel to allow arm 160 to return under the bias of a returnSpring. The deenergization of relay 132 will allow switch 130 to moveback up to the position shown in the drawings. As previously explained,with switch 130 in such position and with ONOFF switch closed, mainpower relay 112 will be energized.

With the cart positioned at the 45-foot distance, the archers proceed toshoot at the target 18 on the cart. When shooting is completed the cartcan be returned to the front or T position for removal of the arrows bysimply pushing the TO button 324 on the console. With main power relay112 energized, the actuating of T0 button 324 will cause cart 14 toreturn in a manner which will now be described. Depressing TO button 324will close switches 326 and 328 which, in turn, will energize coil 330of relay 248 by a circuit starting at source 94 and including conductors110,108,170, slip ring 172, brush 174, conductors 176,178,180, switch182, conductor 184, switch 186, conductor 188, switch 190, conductors192,332, coil 330 of relay 248, conductor 334 TO safety switch 336,conductor 338, brush 340, slip ring 342, conductor 344, switch 326,conductors 346,348,210,118, switch 120, conductor 124, switch 126,conductor 128, switch 130, conductors 134,136,100, switch 90, andconductors 98,96. The energization of coil 330 will open switches246,260 and close switches 347,349,350. The closing of switch 350 willshort TO switch 326 out of the circuit so that coil 330 will remainenergized when TO button 324 is released.

The closing of T0 switch 326 will also energize coil 166 of relay 168 tothereby close switches 212 and 214. Then with relays 168 and 248 bothenergized starter relay 234 and running relay 274 of motor 330 will beenergized to start the motor in the TO direction and at the same timebrake coil 276 will be energized to release the brake. Motor 30 willthus be energized to drive cart 14 in the TO direction. It will be notedat this point that when TO switch 328 is closed a circuit will be closedto energize reset coil 314 to thus insure that stepper switch 154 isreset to position No. 1 when the cart is driven in the T0 direction.

Cart 14 will travel in the TO direction until TO trip stop switch 182 isopened by an elongated stop member 352 located at the front of the rangeas shown in FIG. 1. The opening of switch 182 will deenergize relays 168and 248 and brake coil 276 causing cart 14 to stop. As indicatedpreviously, cart 14 will coast a short distance before it comes to acomplete stop usually about 3-4 feet after switch 182 is opened. TOsafety switch 336 is positioned on cart 14 about two feet from switch182 and stop bar 352 is dimensioned so that when cart 14 comes to restswitch 182 will have dropped off the end of stop bar 352 and switch 336will be engaged thereby and thus held in open position. With switch 336held in open position the cart cannot be driven in the TO direction byinadvertently pushing the TO button and with switch 182 closed thecircuit for starting motor 30 in the FROM direction is in condition forstarting the motor when FROM button 162 is depressed.

It should be noted at this point that stop bar 352 is made of sufficientlength so that the interval between the opening of switch 182 and itssubsequent closing (as it drops off the end of bar 352) is sufficient topermit the motor rpm to slow down to the point where the centrifugalstarter switch 254 will close before switch 182 drops off bar 352. Thisis important since if the interval is too short and if the operatorinadvertently de presses the FROM button 162 at the time the stoppingoperation is being performed the running winding will be re-energized inthe TO direction causing the cart to continue running in the T0direction. This will occur due to the fact that no change in polaritywill be exerted on running coil by starter coil 234 as would normallyoccur if centrifugal switch 254 were allowed to close and then thecircuits re-energized by closing FROM switch 164.

The arrangement for stopping the cart at the extreme FROM end of therange includes a stop bar 354 mounted at the FROM end of the track (FIG.1). Bar 354 is adapted for actuating switches 186 and 200 in thesequence described above with respect to switches 182 and 336 to providean identical stopping operation to that described above.

If for any reason the stop bar 352 and its associated switches 182,336do not operate properly to stop the cart as described above, additionalmechanism is provided to prevent the cart from running off the front endof the range. Such additional mechanism is comprised of a pair ofelongated cam members 356,356 mounted on the floor at the front of therange as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cams 356,356 are mounted in alignmentwith the outer edges of cart body 20 and adapted for engagement with apair of skid members 358,360 mounted on the underside of the cart bodywith the front skid 358 being of slightly less depth as the rear skid360, as shown in H6. 2. Cam members 356 are provided with a lower levelportion 362 and an upper level portion 364 adapted for cooperation withpairs of skid members 358,360, respectively. Thus, if cart 14 is notstopped by bar 352 it will ride up on cam members 364 causing the wheels22 of the cart to be lifted off the floor. With wheels 22 lifted off thefloor the cart will stop due to the absence of driving traction betweenthe wheels and the floor.

As a further safety precaution, a safety stop switch is provided on thecart which will be held closed as long as the cart remains on the track.If, however, the cart should jump the track for any reason, switch 190will open causing motor 30 to be stopped. Safety stop switch 190 willopen, of course, if cart 14 rides up on cam members 364 as describedabove.

Another safety feature of this invention is the provision of a normallyopen foot pad switch 366 (FIG. 15) adapted for actuation by a foot padmember 368 positioned at the front of the range as shown in FIG. 1. Asshown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 15 when foot pad switch 366 isclosed a bell 370 will ring by power supplied by a low voltagetransformer 372. Thus, if, for any reason, a person sould step over thefoul line at the front of the range onto foot pad 368, the warning bell370 will ring. When, however, the cart is brought to its extreme TOposition at the front of the range for removal of the arrows from thetarget a normally closed track cancel switch 374 (FIG. 15) will beopened to thereby prevent bell 370 from ringing when the archer stepsonto pad 368 to remove the arrows from the target. T Track cancel switch374 is not shown in FIG. 1 but it can be positioned in any suitableposition at the front of the range where it will be opened by the cartwhen the cart reaches the front of the range. Switch 374 will return toits normally closed position when the cart is driven down-range from theextreme TO position.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Target return apparatus for a shooting range comprising:

a wheeled cart means mouted for rolling movement along the range;

a drive means adapted to drive said cart back and forth on the range;

a control means for said drive means including a cable means connectedbetween a take-up device mounted on said cart means and one end of therange, said take-up device including a take-up drum and a drive motordrivingly connected thereto by a driving connection, said drivingconnection between said drum and said motor including a spring meansadapted to be moved into an energy storing position when said drum isdriven by said motor.

2. Target return apparatus for a shooting range according to claim 1 inwhich said spring means is in the form of a coil spring one end of whichis operatively connected to said drum, said spring being arranged to betwisted to a smaller diameter as it functions to transmit power fromsaid drive motor to said drum.

3. Target return apparatus for a shooting range according to claim 1 in,which said driving connection between said drum and said motor includesa slip clutch means effective to place a drag on said take-up drum assaid cable means is being unwound therefrom.

4. Target return apparatus for a shooting range according to claim 3 inwhich said drive motor is adapted to drive said drum at a speed greaterthan is necessary to take up the slack in said cable means, said slipclutch means adapted to accommodate such speed differential.

"222 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.317701914 Dated November 6 1973 Inventofls) Henry A- Larsen It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 6, "559,994" should read 3,559,994-.

Column 10 line 2 "mouted. should read --mouhted-.

Signed and sealed this 5 day of April lQYLL.

( SEAL Attest:

EDWARD FLFLET HEILJR. C. MARSHALL DAMN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. Target return apparatus for a shooting range comprising: a wheeledcart means mouted for rolling movement along the range; a drive meansadapted to drive said cart back and forth on the range; a control meansfor said drive means including a cable means connected between a take-updevice mounted on said cart means and one end of the range, said take-updevice including a takeup drum and a drive motor drivingly connectedthereto by a driving connection, said driving connection between saiddrum and said motor including a spring means adapted to be moved into anenergy storing position when said drum is driven by said motor. 2.Target return apparatus for a shooting range according to claim 1 inwhich said spring means is in the form of a coil spring one end of whichis operatively connected to said drum, said spring being arranged to betwisted to a smaller diameter as it functions to transmit power fromsaid drive motor to said drum.
 3. Target return apparatus for a shootingrange according to claim 1 in which said driving connection between saiddrum and said motor includes a slip clutch means effective to place adrag on said take-up drum as said cable means is being unwoundtherefrom.
 4. Target return apparatus for a shooting range according toclaim 3 in which said drive motor is adapted to drive said drum at aspeed greater than is necessary to take up the slack in said cablemeans, said slip clutch means adapted to accommodate such speeddifferential.